The Phoenician (left) and Hermosa Inn (right) are two of Arizona's top hotels. Joey Hadden/Business Insider, Hermosa Yin
Scottsdale, Arizona has become a popular destination for luxury travelers.
The Phoenician and Hermosa Inn are two of Arizona's top luxury hotels.
I've stayed in both and had two very different experiences.
Arizona is a popular destination for luxury travelers.
The state is known for its award-winning travel offerings, from luxury resorts and spas to pristine golf courses and awe-inspiring desert landscapes, Condé Nast Traveler reported in 2023.
This is especially true in Scottsdale.
In 2022, the Phoenix suburb welcomed about 11 million visitors, from day-trippers to overnight guests, spending a total of $3.2 billion, according to the city's Tourism and Events Department.
I recently visited the desert town of the Southwest and visited two of Arizona's top 4-star hotels, The Phoenician in Scottsdale and the Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, a nearby town known as the “Beverly Hills of Arizona.” I stayed there.
The Phoenician was named “Arizona's Top Resort” by the 2023 World Travel Awards. According to the hotel's website, in 2024 it received the Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award for the 22nd consecutive time.
Meanwhile, the Hermosa Inn is a boutique property named Arizona's Best Hotel in 2023 by Travel + Leisure.
I had top-notch VIP experiences at both properties, and the atmosphere in each could not have been more different. After all, I think these were made for two different vacations.
I spent my first night at the Phoenician, a huge 645-room resort.
Entrance to Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
From the moment my taxi pulled into the entrance, Phoenician felt like a huge resort. The 600-acre property was dotted with fountains, a golf course, and several large buildings.
A winding road led to the main building, which contained a lobby, several accommodations, a restaurant, shops, and event space.
The next day, after exploring the resort on foot, I got lost on my way back. It took me about 30 minutes to find my room from the very end of the property.
The interior of the lobby had warm colors and modern decor.
Inside the Phoenician lobby. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The luxury Marriott hotel opened in 1998 and has undergone several interior renovations. Most recently, the property was redesigned in 2016 and the public spaces were renovated in 2018.
The lobby was huge. The combination of warm tones of beige and red and geometric patterned fabrics reminded me of desert landscapes and Southwestern style.
My room was 600 square feet with a bed, a sectional sofa, and a balcony.
Inside the Phoenician deluxe room. Phoenicians
According to the company's website, the deluxe rooms I booked typically cost about $800 a night if booked a month in advance. Business Insider said he received a media fee for the one-night stay.
Like the lobby, I thought the furniture and decorations would be modern, but they were mostly gray with beige accents.
There was a comfortable king-sized bed across from the TV, and a storage cabinet with a safe, mini-fridge, and Keurig coffee maker.
The bathroom was large with a shower and large tub.
Inside the bathroom. Phoenicians
The bathroom had a luxurious feel with marble floors and counters. There were also two robes hanging inside.
From the balcony, we could see the unique architecture of the building.
View of the building from the balcony. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Geometric buildings combined curved, boxy edges. I thought it was a neat shape for a hotel.
However, most of the fun took place in communal resort areas such as the pool facilities.
Phoenician pool facility. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The complex has 5 pools, including 1 water play area and 1 adults-only pool. The pool is shaded by lounge chairs, cabanas, and palm trees.
During my stay there seemed to be enough space for each guest to have a peaceful experience. I didn't see any crowds in the afternoon.
The Phoenician has eight restaurants and bars.
Inside one of Phoenician's eight restaurants. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The resort features award-winning restaurants J&G Steakhouse and Mowry & Cotton, as well as an award-winning lobby bar, Thirsty Camel.
The resort has an award-winning 5-star spa.
Interior of spa treatment room. Phoenicians
Winner of Forbes Travel Guide's 5-Star Award in 2024 for the fifth year in a row, Phoenician Spa features 24 treatment rooms, a rooftop pool, fitness center, sauna, and rooms dedicated to peace and tranquility. There is also a boutique, a driver's shop, and a nail salon.
There is an athletic club near the spa.
Athletic club tennis court. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The Athletic Club has several courts for tennis, pickleball, and basketball.
There is also an 18-hole golf course with a driving range on site.
Part of the golf course. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The course is surrounded by beautiful scenery, Sonoran Desert.
The resort also has a cactus garden.
Entrance to the garden. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The garden is located behind the main building, in a secluded, shady lane. The short promenade is dotted with 250 different types of plants.
After spending the night at the huge Phoenician resort, I checked into the Hermosa Inn for a different experience.
The main building of Hermosa Inn. Hermosa Inn
The roads of Paradise Valley, lined with rolling hills and large acres, led to the Hermosa Inn. The hotel entrance was a small traditional adobe building just a few yards from the main road.
The six-acre site features 43 casita accommodations in individual buildings with the same design style rooted in history, according to the company's website.
In 1936, cowboy and artist Alonzo “Ron” Megargee built the current hotel to serve as his home and studio until 1941, when it opened as the Hermosa Inn.
The interior and exterior maintain a traditional Southwestern style.
Inside the lobby of Hermosa Inn. Hermosa Inn
Unlike Phoenician, there is nothing modern about Hermosa Inn's interior design.
Instead, from the moment you check in, the adobe, wood beams, and high-quality rustic furniture transport visitors to the early 20th century West. Meghazy artwork is also on display in the lobby and guest rooms.
Winding garden paths lead to the casita.
A snapshot of the garden. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Rather than being secluded like Phoenician, gardens line the paths around the resort.
Guests can use bicycles on site, but I explored on foot.
It was a quiet and quiet walk to my room. As you walk through the archway, you'll find fountains and bright flowerbeds.
My room was a deluxe casita at the back of the property.
Casita, author of Hermosa Inn. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
At the end of the garden path we had a secluded deluxe casita with a patio.
A search on the company's website says rooms cost about $600 a night, paid a month in advance. BI received media fees for her one night stay.
Inside, the 600-square-foot room features a seating area, king-sized bed, bathroom, and fireplace.
Inside the author's room. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The interior has the same southwestern style as the lobby, with wooden shutters and a bed made of wooden pillars, making me feel like royalty.
Aside from the balcony, this room had all the same amenities as our Phoenician accommodation, from a safe to a mini-fridge.
The bathroom had a similar rustic feel.
Inside the casita bathroom. The Hermosa Inn
Style aside, the bathrooms at the Hermosa Inn closely resembled those of the Phoenicians. It was spacious with a spacious shower and deep soaking tub.
The pool area was much smaller at Hamosain.
Hermosa Inn pool. Hermosa Inn
Hermosa Inn has one pool and one Jacuzzi. During my stay I only saw a few guests using it at a time. Like Phoenician, Hermosa Inn also has a spa.
Hermosa Inn has one restaurant and one bar.
LON's patio. Joey Hadden/Business Insider
LON's was named Arizona's Most Romantic Restaurant in 2022 by Food & Wine Magazine. It serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with a large outdoor patio on the garden side and indoor seating. LON's Last Drop is the bar next door with an outdoor adobe fireplace.
There is also a library with limited edition art books and a fireplace.
Inside the Hermosa Inn library. The Hermosa Inn
The library is often used for wedding receptions and accommodates up to 32 guests.
The Hermosa Inn's fitness center is small, which makes sense given that there are fewer guests at a time compared to the Phoenician.
The Phoenician seemed perfect for families, but the Hermosa Inn offered a more unique, secluded cultural experience.
The author enjoys Phoenician (left) and Hermosa Inn (right). Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The Phoenician offered many amenities, restaurants, and activities for guests to spend their entire vacation on-site. This resort is perfect for families and those who want to spend the day playing sports or relaxing by the pool.
Although Hermosa Inn is not very large, it offers a unique experience for those looking for a taste of culture, peace, and tranquility.
